Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-04

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The diagram below shows the floor plan of a public library 20 years ago and how it looks now.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Central Library 20 years ago

Student answer (Band 7.0)

The maps illustrates the changes made to the layout of Central Libraryover a 20-year period.

Overall, teh library has undergone significant modernization and reorganisation, transitioning grom a traditional book-borrowing and reading space to multipurpose facility equipped with digital technology, social areas, and a dedicated event spaces. Notably, while central seating was removed, new amenities such as a cafe and a computer room were introduced.

Twenty years ago, the left side of the library contained a reading room for newspapers and magazines in the bottom corner, adult fiction books in the middle, and media items (CDs, videos, and computer games) in the top room. In the present layout, the media section and adult fiction have been replaced by a room for storytelling events featuring sofas and children's fiction books. Below this, the area previously designated for adult fiction now houses all reference books, while the former reading room has been converted into a computer room.

On the right side of the library, the former children's books area has been repurposed into a lecture room. The area previously dedicated to adult non-fiction books now houses adult fiction books, an informative desk, and self-service machines. Furthermore, the enquiry desk situated near the entrance on the bottom right has been replaced by a cafe. Lastly, the central area, which previously accomodated four tables and chairs, has been cleared to allow for open passageway space.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response successfully covers all parts of the task by presenting a clear, well-developed overview of the main changes and selecting appropriate features for comparison. The student effectively contrasts the layout from twenty years ago with the present day, noting significant transformations such as the removal of central seating and the introduction of new amenities like the café and computer room. The details provided regarding the left and right sides of the library are accurate and supported by the visual data. To achieve the highest band, the response could ensure even deeper integration of overarching trends before diving into granular spatial details, but overall, it provides a comprehensive and clear summary that fully addresses the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay displays a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Information is grouped sensibly by location, moving systematically from the general overview to the left side and then the right side of the library layout. Paragraphing is used appropriately to structure the response, and cohesive devices are employed effectively to guide the reader, such as 'Notably', 'Twenty years ago', 'In the present layout', and 'Furthermore'. Referencing is generally clear, though occasional transitional links feel slightly mechanical. To move further up, the cohesive flow could be made even more seamless and unobtrusive, ensuring that transitions between the detailed spatial descriptions feel entirely natural.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for flexibility and precision, successfully employing terms relevant to spatial descriptions and architectural updates, such as 'modernization', 'reorganisation', 'multipurpose facility', and 'repurposed'. Less common lexical items are attempted with a good awareness of style, though there are a few minor spelling slips ('teh', 'grom', 'accomodated') and occasional slightly unnatural word choices (such as 'informative desk' instead of 'information desk'). These minor flaws do not impede communication and allow the writing to meet the requirements of this level, showing signs of a broader vocabulary repertoire alongside some persistent lower-level inaccuracies.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and participial phrases effectively (e.g., 'featuring sofas and children\'s fiction books' and 'situated near the entrance'). There is good control over tense usage, shifting appropriately between past tenses for the historical layout and present tenses for current features. While there are a few minor grammatical lapses—such as the singular/plural mismatch in the opening sentence ('The maps illustrates')—frequent error-free sentences are present. Control over punctuation is generally good. To reach the next level, the writer would need to eliminate all minor agreement slips and demonstrate a wider, more consistently flawless deployment of complex grammatical structures.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.